West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-08-25
QUATREFOIL.

Some two or three years ago any one
passing through Fifty ninth street about
nine O'Clock on pleasant mornings might
have seen two girls on horseback at
tended by staid elderly groom, enter
the Eighth Avenue gate Of Central Park
and presently disappear under the leafy
archway which forms the entrance to the.
Bride Road.
These two girls were my cousin Leslie
Effingham and myself Louise Marie Ar
buthnOt, usually known TO all my init
mates as Lou Arbuthnot Leslie was a
tall, slender girl with straight classical
features, marble white complexion, and a
perfect rope of hair, yellow like ripe
corn" On horseback, in her perfectly
hitting habit, absolutely moulded 10 her
figure, she was one continued sinuous
graceful outline from head TO foot
Moreover, she was very clever. studious
and well-read, and had but one serious
fault in my eyes, that of being morbidlv.
lncurably shy, and especially with men
One would have thought every man was
wolf in sleeps clothing.
In TINS respect as in most Others I
was perfect contrast TO Leslie. as I was
short, plump. and rosy-cheked. with
curly brown hair, and | have been told
often that the dimples round my mouth
and under my eyes are But there,
What is the use of repeating things?
~ that time had been advised to try
riding for my health, and Leslie. who
always went out every day, had invited
me to accompany her regularly. To this
Pianl had but one bjection-the fact that
am, and always was, an arrant coward
on horseback.
Although by dint of instruction |
learned to ride well enough on quiet
horse, and even to sit plunge or two. l
was afraid all the time, and if the ami
NAL is at all positive about having his
own way he Is sure to get in with me.
To this day / prefer to ride a trottinp
morse, because when a horse is trotting
am sure he is not running away.
No words can tell how / hated and
feared my black pony Sprite. and well
did the little wretch know it, and take
advantage of hi power. Perhaps three
mornings out # four he would 90 along
quietly enough the fourth he would shy
at every baby wagon, cart, drain cover
or bright pebble hc could see, kick at
imaginary flies, squat like rabbit if he
saw bicyc!c, then leap up and scuttle
away in the same fat fashion. Worse
still, though he had absolutely no fear of
the elevated road, at such times he would
not go under 1t, but turning short round
and rising placidly on his hind legs
would give me the option of getting Oft
over his tail or surrcndcring at discretion.
In vain did Leslie urge, scold. coax.
ana rldicule me; tle result was ALWAYS
the same: her groom had to come ap and
lead Sprite
Leslie, who in the saddle knew no fear
could not realize my timidity. Her own
horse, a powerful bay thoroughbred.
seemed to me perfect terror, liable as
ne was at any moment to Jump an un-
knQwD numBes OF feet of the iPiduhd.
lash out yiciously while In the air. then
landing dozen feet farther ON.
canter away as quietly as before; but
Leslie liked nothing better.
One morning late in April we rode III
10 the end Of Tenth avenue, ana turned
into a field 70 jump, while Leslie sent her
groom Oft on an crrand, saying that mean.
time she would give Roushan Bev some
practice over stone wall ] iumpcd
Sprite over the low rail-fence that di.
Yided the field from tho road and this
Feat satisfied all MY ambition. IN that
line ~
Leslie put Roushan Bey at the highest
part OF the stouo wall, which he cleared
grandly, but broke away on landing. and
Les could not at once pull him in. Sprite.
thinking himself deserted, rushed at the
wall, stopped short, then, rising on his
hind-legs, planted his forefeet ON the ton
stone, and stood, calmly but firmly re-
fusing 90 move. I screamed TO Leslie TO
come back quick while Sprito only
Fhisked hie little docked tail, oockedhi
cars ana actually wriggled with enjoy
mcnt Of my dilemma.
At my call Leslie turned her horse
round 10 come to my assistance but Ron.
shan Bcy, alarmed at the curious specta
Gle, refused TO come near me rear;n,
angriiy at each attempt Leslie made TO-
force bim up
At this moment I saw horseman com
ing rapidly toward us. evidently intend
ing to'Jump. Al my shriek he' checked
ms horse, just glanced at Leslie. but seo
ing that she needed no assistance edis.
mounted, threw tho rcins on the neck of
his horse, and came toward me Icallod
TO him 70 ''rIn, please" but he was too
good o horseman for that Advancino
quickly, he made q slight dctour swing
ing himself lightly over the val. and
coming quietlypp 70 me slipped 5ne arni
~ h1ugh tho ponys bride, and passing
the other round my waist, lifted me frou,
the saddle, and placed me gently on the
.Ahe next moment Master Sprite found
himsef on his four feet with a man
prmly seated on his back. Not Iiking
the change, the pony made sudden AZ
tempt % kick the new rider of that
falling, tried 10 get rid of him by turning
short round and plunRing sideways. q
plan which proved equally unsuccessful
bPrito was a pony Of much sagacity. and
eiwaya, If he could, avoided any personal
discomfort He therefore appeared to